How Will The Elections Affect Online Gambling

[casinoguru]

I wanted to share with all of you an article i wrote today for my website. I hope you enjoy reading it despite the fact that it voices the opinion that the near future is gloomy for the legalization of online casino gambling. I am not trying to ruffle feathers here but just wanted to share my work with all of my fellow members at Casinomeister. Have a great day.

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How Will The Elections Affect Online Gambling

The much anticipated November elections in the United States are now over and many people are wondering how the results will affect online casino gambling and the cause of legalization. The Republican Party and the Conservative Movement made significant gains and now control the U.S. House of Representatives. They have reduced the Democrat’s majority in the Senate to a level that will allow Republicans to filibuster any legislation they disagree over. The Republicans also made gains in the governorships of several more states and are now in a position to put the brakes on Obama’s ability to continue to impose his socialist, progressive, left wing agenda that the vast majority of citizens oppose. All in all, despite the excuse making by the Democrats, it was an overwhelming repudiation of Obama and his agenda.

How will this affect the movement to re-legalize online casino gambling? The answer is complicated but overall things do not bode well for legal online gambling in the near future. Although Barney Franks, one of online gambling’s biggest and most powerful Congressional supporters, managed to hold onto his seat as did Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, many who support online casino gambling are deeply worried about the gains made by the Republican party.

Harry Reid is an extremely savvy, long time U.S. Senator. He represents the state of Nevada, where land based casinos flourish. Reid has recently become a supporter of legal online poker. While he hasn’t made the move all the way towards full legalization of online casino gambling, it is a step in the right direction. Considering that Reid comes from a state where the land based casino industry has been so vocal in the past against internet gambling, Reid’s support of online poker is important. One must remember that these same casinos donated heavily to Reid’s campaign. It bodes well for online gambling if he is sincere in his support and wasn’t just looking to please everyone to get re-elected. We must also consider that some of the land based casinos in Nevada have relaxed their opposition to online gambling. Some, like Harrahs, have even opened online casinos in other countries. Reid has always made it known that he strongly considers the opinions of Nevada based businesses in his Senatorial policies. It seems that as Nevada’s casinos begin to change their opinion on internet gambling, Reid is willing to echo their change in position. How this will play out in the months ahead will be highly interesting and will certainly have a major effect on future Congressional actions on legal online gambling.

Despite having considerable political baggage for strongly supporting Fannie Mac and Freddie Mac and refusing to investigate or audit them during the total collapse of the U.S. housing market, Barney Franks was able to gain his 16th term as a United States Congress Person. Franks has been vocal in his support of legal online casino gambling and he is the author of a major bill in the House that would legalize, tax and regulate online gambling. Sadly, the bill has been dead in the water for months due to the death struggle over health care followed by the economic crisis and then the fall campaign season. Now that the elections are over, we are facing 2 months of a lame duck Congress. Frank’s bill is sure to be ignored as Obama attempts to force any legislation he can down the throats of the majority in opposition. Obama has already hinted that he will not compromise on his agenda despite overwhelming rejection by the voters and the lame duck session of congress will never be allowed to consider internet gambling. Once the Republican’s take control in January, 2011, the fight for power between them and Obama will likely continue to make Frank’s much needed bill a forgotten issue. As this is the strongest Federal Legislation to legalize online casino gambling, the future is looking gloomy in this arena.

To further compound the issue, we have the election of the very conservative Marco Rubio in Florida to the U.S. Senate. He was a major thorn in the side of pro gambling Floridians during the negotiations with the Seminole Tribe concerning land based casinos. Rubio has long held an anti-gambling viewpoint and has elicited statements of dismay from pro gambling advocates. “This was one of the worst possible outcomes for online gamblers in the US in this mid-term election,” said Gaming Analyst Brad Dawkins, “Rubio has shown that he is against gambling expansion, and if he took on the governor in Florida, he will certainly be prepared to take on pro-gambling legislators in the Senate.” Rubio is just one example of what will likely be many newly elected Republican’s who will bring similar attitudes to the House and Senate.

It is a given that the more conservative Republicans and Tea Party members will bring with them a philosophy that is heavily against legal online casino gambling. Instead of focusing on the truths of the issue, we are sure to be bombarded with more arguments that gambling is sinful and anti-family. They will continue to ignore the real issues. They won’t mention that legal online casino gambling will create jobs, raise billions in tax revenues, reduce crime, create a major new industry and that it will keep over 100 billion dollars a year from flowing out of the U.S. into foreign treasuries. They will continue to appeal to raw emotions and ignore the overwhelming benefits that legal, taxed and regulated online casino gambling can bring to the country. However, supporters of online gambling can not afford to give up or back off. We must continue to push forward on the issues and be sure to stress the valid points of our argument. We must avoid resorting to mindless emotional claims that have no bearing on the issues. Only by stressing the real benefits to our economy that come from legal online casino gambling, can we ever hope to see it legalized.


Copyright Wolff Bachner 2010

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[footdr]

allowing online gambling won't pass

Personally, I don't want it to. Anytime the Government starts regulating anything it ends up being a mess and worse then before they interfered.

Things are fine the way they are. The DOJ doesn't have the staff to investigate. The IRS doesnt have the Staff. Neither does the Treasury or the Fed.

Banks clearly don't have the Staff or a meaningful system. That was determined ages ago. The are basically counting on Visa and Mastercard to enforce the merchant rules. Which they aren't really doing, why, because it makes them "big bucks". Basically, they turn a blind eye.

So, the only real problem is that the Casinos and their processors have used the Law to exploit u.s. players charging fees for cashins, stopping ACH payment(which is safer then Wiretransfers that are more easily scrutinized by the Bank, taking away participation in progressive and new games(microgaming), banning U.S. players and offering minimal if any VIP gifts(which I truly miss).

Leave the Government out. If they get involved the cost to play will go up as it will likely cost the Casinos more. Many of them will simply ban U.S. Players.

 

[felicie]

I wanted to share with all of you an article i wrote today for my website. I hope you enjoy reading it despite the fact that it voices the opinion that the near future is gloomy for the legalization of online casino gambling. I am not trying to ruffle feathers here but just wanted to share my work with all of my fellow members at Casinomeister. Have a great day.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

How Will The Elections Affect Online Gambling

The much anticipated November elections in the United States are now over and many people are wondering how the results will affect online casino gambling and the cause of legalization. The Republican Party and the Conservative Movement made significant gains and now control the U.S. House of Representatives. They have reduced the Democrat’s majority in the Senate to a level that will allow Republicans to filibuster any legislation they disagree over. The Republicans also made gains in the governorships of several more states and are now in a position to put the brakes on Obama’s ability to continue to impose his socialist, progressive, left wing agenda that the vast majority of citizens oppose. All in all, despite the excuse making by the Democrats, it was an overwhelming repudiation of Obama and his agenda.

How will this affect the movement to re-legalize online casino gambling? The answer is complicated but overall things do not bode well for legal online gambling in the near future. Although Barney Franks, one of online gambling’s biggest and most powerful Congressional supporters, managed to hold onto his seat as did Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, many who support online casino gambling are deeply worried about the gains made by the Republican party.

Harry Reid is an extremely savvy, long time U.S. Senator. He represents the state of Nevada, where land based casinos flourish. Reid has recently become a supporter of legal online poker. While he hasn’t made the move all the way towards full legalization of online casino gambling, it is a step in the right direction. Considering that Reid comes from a state where the land based casino industry has been so vocal in the past against internet gambling, Reid’s support of online poker is important. One must remember that these same casinos donated heavily to Reid’s campaign. It bodes well for online gambling if he is sincere in his support and wasn’t just looking to please everyone to get re-elected. We must also consider that some of the land based casinos in Nevada have relaxed their opposition to online gambling. Some, like Harrahs, have even opened online casinos in other countries. Reid has always made it known that he strongly considers the opinions of Nevada based businesses in his Senatorial policies. It seems that as Nevada’s casinos begin to change their opinion on internet gambling, Reid is willing to echo their change in position. How this will play out in the months ahead will be highly interesting and will certainly have a major effect on future Congressional actions on legal online gambling.

Despite having considerable political baggage for strongly supporting Fannie Mac and Freddie Mac and refusing to investigate or audit them during the total collapse of the U.S. housing market, Barney Franks was able to gain his 16th term as a United States Congress Person. Franks has been vocal in his support of legal online casino gambling and he is the author of a major bill in the House that would legalize, tax and regulate online gambling. Sadly, the bill has been dead in the water for months due to the death struggle over health care followed by the economic crisis and then the fall campaign season. Now that the elections are over, we are facing 2 months of a lame duck Congress. Frank’s bill is sure to be ignored as Obama attempts to force any legislation he can down the throats of the majority in opposition. Obama has already hinted that he will not compromise on his agenda despite overwhelming rejection by the voters and the lame duck session of congress will never be allowed to consider internet gambling. Once the Republican’s take control in January, 2011, the fight for power between them and Obama will likely continue to make Frank’s much needed bill a forgotten issue. As this is the strongest Federal Legislation to legalize online casino gambling, the future is looking gloomy in this arena.

To further compound the issue, we have the election of the very conservative Marco Rubio in Florida to the U.S. Senate. He was a major thorn in the side of pro gambling Floridians during the negotiations with the Seminole Tribe concerning land based casinos. Rubio has long held an anti-gambling viewpoint and has elicited statements of dismay from pro gambling advocates. “This was one of the worst possible outcomes for online gamblers in the US in this mid-term election,” said Gaming Analyst Brad Dawkins, “Rubio has shown that he is against gambling expansion, and if he took on the governor in Florida, he will certainly be prepared to take on pro-gambling legislators in the Senate.” Rubio is just one example of what will likely be many newly elected Republican’s who will bring similar attitudes to the House and Senate.

It is a given that the more conservative Republicans and Tea Party members will bring with them a philosophy that is heavily against legal online casino gambling. Instead of focusing on the truths of the issue, we are sure to be bombarded with more arguments that gambling is sinful and anti-family. They will continue to ignore the real issues. They won’t mention that legal online casino gambling will create jobs, raise billions in tax revenues, reduce crime, create a major new industry and that it will keep over 100 billion dollars a year from flowing out of the U.S. into foreign treasuries. They will continue to appeal to raw emotions and ignore the overwhelming benefits that legal, taxed and regulated online casino gambling can bring to the country. However, supporters of online gambling can not afford to give up or back off. We must continue to push forward on the issues and be sure to stress the valid points of our argument. We must avoid resorting to mindless emotional claims that have no bearing on the issues. Only by stressing the real benefits to our economy that come from legal online casino gambling, can we ever hope to see it legalized.


Copyright Wolff Bachner 2010

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Good post casinoguru thank you. I'm with footdr on govt regulation, they'll just mess it up with a capital f. And we'll pay more all around. On the other hand, I think some body or country should get involved and regulate just not the U.S.
And it is nothing against your post casinoguru as I see this everywhere but since when have republicans all decided no on gambling? I've been raised and surrounded by them for 50 some years and never got that impression at all. The idea was a person should make their own money, spend it how they like, in a responsible manner of course and if you couldn't gamble in a responsible manner then by all means, stay away from it. Never was there talk about the govt. needing to get involved in our personal banking matters and why couldn't Frank get that bill thru in the last year? I don't think it was the republicans stopping it because then I would also have to think the democrats were pushing Frank's bill forward but they haven't or it would be done.

 

[Simmo!]

I've been in Vegas this past week attending G2E and one or two meetings outside and I have to say I get the impression that the juggernaut is rolling. I'm told that most of the big (and small) land-based casino groups are talking to online operators, software providers and some are even hiring staff with online experience.

While the politics cearly has a way to go I firmly get the impression that the majority of B&M ops have woken up to the potential and I subscribe to the notion that I heard someone voice this week that the UIGEA was really set in motion to clear out the unwanted and pave the way for the established US gaming companies. Ironic that all it really did was clear out most of the good ones and allowed the bad ones to regain a foothold.

Gut feeling based on what I've picked up is that it's pretty much just a question of time. If you believe that the land-based groups pressurised the politicians behind the UIGEA then you have to believe they could do it again.

 

[silcnlayc]

Simmo! I've been in Vegas this past week attending G2E and one or two meetings outside and I have to say I get the impression that the juggernaut is rolling. I'm told that most of the big (and small) land-based casino groups are talking to online operators, software providers and some are even hiring staff with online experience.

While the politics cearly has a way to go I firmly get the impression that the majority of B&M ops have woken up to the potential and I subscribe to the notion that I heard someone voice this week that the UIGEA was really set in motion to clear out the unwanted and pave the way for the established US gaming companies. Ironic that all it really did was clear out most of the good ones and allowed the bad ones to regain a foothold.

Gut feeling based on what I've picked up is that it's pretty much just a question of time. If you believe that the land-based groups pressurised the politicians behind the UIGEA then you have to believe they could do it again.

I believe you are right Simmo!. My husband and I have been watching and reading a lot that is going on in the east coast and it seems there is a lot of rumbling going on in the northen part as in Atlantic City wanting to get into the online scheme of things. Virginia has also put in to start riverboat gambling. It is like the whole country is waking up to the fact there is a lot of money out there to be had and they all want a piece of it.

I do not think we will have long to wait...since I believe the ball has begun to roll..faster than expected...


.

 

[jetset]

Article in the Las Vegas Sun this week estimates it'll be at least two years...but at least that implies that it's going to happen.

When it does you can be sure the big US land groups will have engineered a firm political and business position, even if it is through a protectionist approach. That's just clever and sensible (from an operator's perspective) business strategy.

Moves in New Jersey, albeit intra-state, look to be faster with Sen. Lesniak's bill S490 out of committee, although that still has to run the gauntlet of political debate and voting. Looks like lots of wheeling and dealing being done to help the state's land casino and horseracing businesses as a quid pro quo.

 

[felicie]

Good news Simmo and we needed some. Thanks.

 

[Simmo!]

Article in the Las Vegas Sun this week estimates it'll be at least two years...but at least that implies that it's going to happen.

Infopowa Report:

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Moves in New Jersey, albeit intra-state, look to be faster with Sen. Lesniak's bill S490 out of committee, although that still has to run the gauntlet of political debate and voting.

Just a sidenote but someone at G2E suggested people are now looking to New York of all States to be the first online because a) it is short of cash and b) it's smaller and politically better organised than many other States.

 

[ksech]

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Just a sidenote but someone at G2E suggested people are now looking to New York of all States to be the first online because a) it is short of cash and b) it's smaller and politically better organised than many other States.

Not sure the politically better organized is correct, we have the blind leading the blind in Albany until January. And I'm not sure Andrew Cuomo will be much better, he's a career politician like his father. Actions, not words are what New Yorkers need to witness. The state has been on the brink of bankrupcy for the last (at least) 20 years. It would be nice to finally be on top of something besides taxes for once.

 

[jetset]

Not so sure about NY; as far as I am aware there are no concrete legalisation initiatives ongoing at the time, whereas New Jersey has had its initiative rolling for some months with much publicity and exchanging of views. But even here, the timeline is looking tight right now.

The parlous state of Atlantic City and the racecourses is fuelling the urgent need for fresh revenues for the NJ state coffers, and Governor Christie appears to have a reasonably open mind.

New York on the other hand has almost become the epicentre for anti-online gambling prosecutions, indicating to me a firmly embedded negative enforcement culture which possibly reflects the majority political will of the state government as well as federal antipathy.

 

[Luckylizzy]

The New Jersey bill S-490 is going to the Senate today. I'm crossing my fingers that it passes and if it does, it will be one US state taking the first plunge into legalized online gambling. Only thing is that it will only be for players in New Jersey.

 

[jetset]

Passed through the Senate on a 25 -9 vote and now on the way to the state House of Assembly.

 

[felicie]

The New Jersey bill S-490 is going to the Senate today. I'm crossing my fingers that it passes and if it does, it will be one US state taking the first plunge into legalized online gambling. Only thing is that it will only be for players in New Jersey.

Didn't it say whatever games are allowed in Jersey would be available for players globally also? Watch them be open to everyone in the world except the rest of the U.S. states. LOL

Jetset, I don't have any idea what your last paragraph about New York said. Could you dumb it down for me please? Thank you.

 

[jetset]

Yes, there is provision for gamblers outside the US to play on New Jersey's intra-state online gambling licensed site/s once established.

Regarding NY, I was simply pointing out that the federal authorities based in New York have been particularly active in recent times in prosecuting both cash processors and online sportsbetting rings - that indicates to me that there is a determined anti-online gambling enforcement policy at work.

That does not mean to say that the efforts of enforcement branches in other parts of the US, such as Florida and Kansas, have gone unnoticed.

 

[felicie]

Thank you jetset I get it now. I think it would be interesting to know the reasoning behind some states harder fight against online gambling besides the obvious ones I mean like Kentucky, Nevada etc. A big percentage of the general public might say morality is a good reason against it; I wonder why they don't just put it on the ballot like they did the Indian Casinos initiative in California.

 

[jetset]

I think the results of the sort of independent poll that you suggest would be extremely interesting and definitely informative, but I fear that the average politician prefers the present non-consultative, wheeler-dealer legislative environment and is unlikely to go for the concept.

In fact I doubt that many politicians really understand and have a decent working knowledge of internet gambling, judging by the sometimes generally uninformed comments that are made. And the mainstream media don't help much by understanding even less and perpetuating the political ignorance.

Why some states are tougher than others on internet gaming has, in my opinion, little to do with the issue of morality that politicians so often throw indiscriminately around.

Bearing in mind that states like Washington, Kentucky and in fact most states have lucrative land gambling facilities of almost every genre operating legally within their borders, my perception is that the main reason for antipathy is:

Protectionism

Many land gaming operators still see online gambling as a competitive threat, and they have influence with the politicians for several reasons, not excluding campaign and Party donations.

The current financial squeeze has made more states look at the revenue streams possible from legalised internet gambling, and hopefully that will enable more progress in the US toward a sensible and regulated market.

If more state and federal politicians had possessed the courage and determination currently being displayed in New Jersey the US internet wagering scene may look radically different to the legislative maze it is today.

 

[felicie]

I noticed in the N.Jersey article also that even though California and was it Florida I think, are the next in line to possibly open up online gambling, California has to hold to agreements with the indian casinos regarding games such as slots and would probably only open up for poker. It also said 'like the Frank gambling bill' which to me meant it too is only designed to cover poker. It sounds at this point that if slots are your game, New Jersey is the only state so far that's even considering them.